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| Featured Pattern of the Week: Luscious Little Pumpkin |
        Interested in crochet? Visit our sister site: Crochet Pattern Central  | Tips 'n TricksDo you have a helpful hint or handy trick that will make any aspect of knitting easier? Share it! Post ideas on scrap yarn usages, stitch markers, color changing, maintaining your sanity while following a difficult pattern, etc. There is most probably someone out there that will benefit from your help. Need ideas yourself? Read others' comments--we all live and learn! Name: Sparrow Subject: dpn storage Comment: I use plastic pencil cases to keep my dpns and knitting ect. in. They fit nicely in my knitting bag keeping everything to hand and often go on sale in the fall so are inexpensive. Name: Winifred from Scotland Subject: scraps of wool Comment: I use up all my scraps of wool by either knitting or crocheting covers. You don't have to do it in any particular order of colour just as it comes. I do mine when I sit down and have a few minutes to spare. Its amazing how quickly it makes up. I find them great on a cold night after the heating has gone off and I am staying up to watch a film. Name: warren stephenson Subject: scrap yarn Comment: I make scarves with my scrap yarn. Tie the yarn on loosely, knit a row, tie another color, leaving extra on each end for fringe. Name: Abby Subject: crazy shawl Comment: I was looking through all my little bitty balls of novelty yarn yesterday, and I decided to knit a shawl. All you do is cast on, knit one, YO, knit to the end, and change yarn. do this until it is wide enough. Mine turned out really cool! I used size 17 circular needles, and it only took two days! Name: Lyn Subject: Yarn Stash Comment: I have been knitting for many, many years and as all knitters just LOVE to buy yarn on sales it's a bit hard to remember the bags of goodies you collect. I decided to make an excel spreadsheet with all the yarn I owned. It took me several days to sort it out! But now when I want to start a project, I go to my "stash" document to see what I own and had forgotten! Happy knitting Name: Beth Subject: Pattern Reading Comment: I'm dyslexic and have a very hard time with the K2tog, ssk, etc. I look over a pattern and if I think I will get confused, I retype it in my own abbreviations that won't confuse me. This is time consuming yes, but, #1, it helps you learn the pattern quicker, #2, I find I have much fewer mistakes, which makes my knitting faster! Name: Karen Subject: knitting with dpns Comment: when you first start trying to knit in the round with double pointed needles, and the yarn and needles keep twisting and frustrating you, try putting something in the middle of the circle made by the three needles. it really helps Name: julie white Subject: casting on with needles Comment: if you cast on with needles, always knit the first row in the back of the loop to make a neater edge. Name: Carol Adams Subject: pattern cover Comment: I use those nice plastic page covers in standard size. They can be put in a binder. I put my patterns inside, then on the outside use that wonderful colored tape for each line of pattern. Keeps patterns clean and the tape can be used time and again. Plus you don't lose your place..... Name: judi Subject: inexpensive end protectors Comment: I was given some colorful,fun shaped foam beads found in any craft department (even some drug stores & $1 stores.) They fit snug on any size needle and are so inexpensive. Name: Margaret Subject: New to all this Comment: I'm new to knitting at the ripe old age of fifty - thanks for all the tips I'm having a wonderful time reading and applying them. A funny story: long ago my grandmother knitted. When my parents met in the late 1940's, my mom says my dad didn't have a dime to his name but had about 20 pair of the most beautiful argyle socks you have ever seen - I recieved my grandmother's knitting tote many years ago (when she died) that my grandfather had made and painted, I'm finally using it for it's intended purpose! Name: Margaret Subject: slipping first stitch Comment: Thanks all of you that mentioned slipping the first stitch of the row - I am self taught and wouldn't have known to think of that, the "messy" edges were irritating me! Name: Debbie Subject: needles Comment: I only use circular needles. I never search for lost needles. I love my Denise interchangable needles sizes 5-13 and storage case. The smaller size needles not in the set I store in plastic page protectors that only open at the top and keep them in a binder with copies of patterns and knitting tips that I want to keep on hand. Name: Ally Subject: Storage/Organization Comment: You can make a really cool needle case/wrap thingy and not have to buy one from a store. I sewed mine by hand and it's really easy. It is basically a little wrap that you can tie up and carry around (kind-of like a burrito...). If you are using cottony materials, you might want to double layer it. Other materials like canvas, burlap, or stronger materials can just have one layer. You can make pockets to put your needle, hooks and other supplies in. Make sure that your stiches are small and tight so the needles don't poke through. Machine sewing is probably the best way to make the wrap the most durable. I made a patchwork quilt wrap for my friend (who was unorganized to the utmost extreme) and she loves it. This is a really fun, easy project. You can personalize it-make it super funky or just..plain... Another suggesstion: Make a 1 1/2 to 2 inch flap at the top to keep your needles from falling out and/or being polky (as needles tend to be). Name: Jonshi Subject: Patterns Comment: When working on a complicated lacy type pattern, I scan the pattern on the computer and enlarge it. Make several copies and then you can use colored markers to mark you place if interrupted. Select a Page << Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 Next >> Share your own hints by filling in the form below... |
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